Crank-hanger.



D. B.- STEPHENSON. GBANK HANGER. APPLICATION FILED Nov. 1s, 1907.

Patented Feb. 2, 1909.

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improved hanger.

DWIGHTB. STEPENSON, OF SIERRA MADRE, CALIFORNIA.

cRANK-HANGER.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Y Patented Feb. 2, 1909.

YApplication ledgNovember 18, 1907. Serial No. 402,681.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, rDWIGHT B. STEPHEN- SON,a citizen of the United States, residing at Sierra Madre, county of LosAngeles, StateV of California, have invented new and useful Improvementsin Crank-Hangers, ofV which the following is a specification. Myinvention vrelates to a crank hanger for bicycles and the like and theprime object thereof is to provide a hanger in which thel two cranks maybe securely fastened together in such a manner as to obviate allliability of the same becoming loosened from each other.

A further object is to provide an adjustable case for the hanger whichcompletely incloses the bearings of the same, thus protecting them fromdust and other foreign material which is instrumental in cutting thebearings.

A further object is to provide a construction which is simple in designand 'manufacture and which may be easily taken apart and reassembled.

I accomplish these objects by means of the device described Vherein andillustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:-

Iiigure 1, is a longitudinal section of my Fig. 2, is a cross sectiontaken` on lines 2*2 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings 5 and`6 designate the cranks of a bicycle ofusual construction, crank 5 being provided with arms 7 for lthereception of a sprocket wheel (not shown). Cranks 5 and 6 are providedwith Shanks 8 and 9 which are adapted to abut against each other along adiagonal surface 10 at their ends and thus form a crank shaft Which isdivided near its center.y Shank 9 is provided with a screw threaded bore11 into which a bolt 12 is adapted to fit. Bolt 12 passes looselythrough a bore 13 in shank 8 and is provided with a conical head 14which iits into a similarly shaped countersink 15 on the outer end .ofbore 13. Bolt 14 is provided with a squared portion 16 on its outer endwhich aords means whereby the bolt may be turned. A cap 17 is adapted toscrew into a threaded bore 18 in crank 5 and be thereby forced intoengagement handed direction., so that, should the bolt start to unscrew,the cap will have a' tendency to screw further into the crank. The

cap is provided with Spanner holes 19 to facilitate its removal.

Tightly surrounding shanks 8 and 9 and extending from points near thecranks on each side is a sleeve 20 which is provided with inwardlyprojecting feathers 21 adapted to fit into grooves 22 cut in each of theshanks. These grooves and feathers are preferably two in number,although any other number may be employed, and are preferably laceddiametrically opposite each other, 'tting as tightly as is consistentwith ease in dismounting the assembled parts. The ends of sleeve 20 bearagainst annular shoulders 23 on the shaft, and the parts are so proortioned to each other that the beveled en s of the Shanks are forcedtightly against each other when the endsv the whole being held rigidlythis relation by bolt 1-2.

Sleeve 20 is adapted to rotate with the crank through the arrangementabove eX- plained and is provided with a air of cones 24 which may bemade integra ly with the sleeve or may be mounted on the sleeve as aseparate piece, the former construction being preferable. Immediatelysurrounding sleeve 20 is .a circular case 25 which consists of twohalves 26 and 27. Portion 27 of .the case is adapted to screw intoportion 26 as at 28, the threads being long enough to allow of ampleadjustment in the length of the case as hereinafter described. Portion26 is provided with an annular shoulder 29 ada ted to engage with alocking ring 30 whic is also in screw threaded engagement with theoutside of portion 27 as at 31. n

Rigidly mounted in each end of case 25 is an annular ball race 32 inwhich balls 33 are adapted to run. As will be seen in the drawings balls33 are adapted to bear on cones 24, being held in engagement with thesame by racesv 32. By adjusting the length of the case and settinglocking ring 30 I am enabled to `keep the balls in roper contact withthe cones and races at alltimes. The locking of the case may also beaccomplished by means of clamp bolts 34 on hanger box 35 of bicycleframe 36, the clampsholding the two halves of the case tightly againstrotation.

From the foregoing description it will be observed that I have providedacrank hanger which is almost im ossible to loosen or throw out ofalinement y constant use and that the mechanism by which I accomplishthis of the rigid construction employed and the spacing of the cones ona solid sleeve instead of on the two halves of the crank shalt, as isusually done, a construction is provided' which is free from liabilityto become tight or loose on the bearings.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is in a device of the class described, a crank shaltdivided obliquely into two sections; a sleeve rigidly keyed to bothsections of said crank shaft; and means to hold the sections together. i

2. in a device of the class described, a crank shaft divided into twosections on a transverse oblique plane through the center thereof; abolt adapted to hold the two sections in rigid engagement with eachother; a sleeve rigidly keyed to each of said sections; and bearings forsaid sleeve.

3. In a device of the class described, a crank shaft formed of twosections divided from each other along a transverse oblique plane; alongitudinal bolt adapted to secure said sections together; a sleevefitting tightly over said sections and keyed to both of the same, saidsleeve being provided with cones on each end thereof; a cylindrical casesur rounding said sleeve, said case being provided with ball races ateach end. thereof; balls adapted to engage with said ball races and withthe cones on said sleeve; and means to adjust the length of said case.

4. A device ol' the class described, comprising a crank shait dividedobliquely into two sections; a sleeve rigidly keyed to both sections gmeans to hold the sections together; cones for ball bearings mounted onsaid sleeve; an outer bearing having corresponding ball races therein;means to adjust the length of said outer sleeve; and means to lock theadjustment at any desired point.

5. In a crank hanger construction, a casing composed of two members inscrew threaded engagement with each other, and means to rigidly lock thetwo said members together when in their adjusted position.

In witness that l claim the foregoing l have hereunto subscribed mynaine this 7th day of October, 1907.

DWIGHT B. STEP HE N SO N itnesses InvrN H. BAnnnLnw, OLLIE PALMER.

